Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Burnett, Peter S. October 20, 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 26, 2005, 12:52 am Author: Emma E. Forter PETER S. BURNETT. Of the well-known and prominent retired farmers and stockmen of Blue Rapids, Marshall county, is Peter S. Burnett, a native son of the Southland, born in North Carolina on October 20, 1835, the son of Jesse and Mary (Stoner) Burnett, also natives of North Carolina, and there they received their education in the public schools and were later married. Jesse Burnett was the son of Thomas Burnett, a life-long resident of North Carolina, where he was drowned many years ago. When Peter S. was three years of age, his parents left the South and came to Indiana, where they established their home on a farm in Putnam county and there the father died in 1884, at an advanced age. He was a hard-working and industrious man and was held in the highest esteem. His wife, Mary Burnett, was born in 1816 and died in April, 1913. She was the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, Peter Stoner, who married Eva Cottner, both being natives of the state of Pennsylvania. The father was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a strong supporter of the government. They also came to Putnam county, Indiana, where they died. Peter S. Burnett lived for many years in a log cabin and received his education in the early schools of Indiana and was on the farm in Madison township, Putnam county. He remained on the home farm until 1856, when he engaged as a farm hand at twelve dollars per month. There was at that time little to regulate the hours that a man should work each day, other than the sun or the weather. It was from daylight to dark, and many times it was from before daylight until after dark. While yet a lad and going to school, he split rails and cut many a cord of wood. On the attempted dissolution of the Union, Mr. Burnett demonstrated his patriotism and his determination to assist in the defence of the flag, by enlisting in Company G, Thirtieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He fought his first battle at Bellemont, Missouri, on November 7, 1861, and on February 12, 1862, he was at Ft. Henry, Tennessee. He was later at Ft. Donalson and saw the surrender of the Southern forces to General Grant, under whom Mr. Burnett was then serving. It was an impressive sight to the new soldier to see, amid the waving of the Stars and Stripes, the fluttering of the white flags of truce. He also saw active service and hard fighting at Pittsburg Landing and was with the forces at the hard fought battle of Brittenslane, Tennessee. He took part in several important skirmishes and was made first sergeant of his company. On May 2, 1863, he was in the battle at Port Gibson, Mississippi, and on May 12 at Raymond; May 14, the battle of Jackson was fought; on the i6th, Champion's Hill; on May 17, Big Black river and on May 22, the forces settled down for the siege of Vicksburg, and for forty-seven days, this memorable engagement continued, when on July 3, 1863, the white flag was seen to wave from the camp of the Confederate forces, and the long and trying- ordeal was over. From April until September of the next year he was at the siege of Atlanta, during which time he was in several small fights. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea, and was present at the surrender of General Johnson. During his campaign to the sea, he fought battles in the country where he was born, though in the opposing forces of most of the residents of that section at that time. He was in the march from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review. He was then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out of the service on August 17, 1865, and was discharged at Springfield, Illinois, some time later. For four long years, he had given his best services to the cause of the Union and was once more a free man to engage in the work of life. In December, 1865, Mr. Burnett came to Kansas and located on a farm in section 12, Waterville township, Marshall county. The township has since been changed to Blue Rapids City township. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land at ten dollars per acre. There were many people in the community at that time who thought him foolish to pay so much for farm land at that time, where there were so many acres to homestead at a much lower price. But the tract suited him and he made the purchase. He made many extensive improvements and developed the farm into one of the finest in that section. He engaged in general farming until 1891, when he retired and moved to Blue Rapids, where he now has a splendid residence. He enlarged his original farm until he became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres, all of which he placed under high cultivation. He was an extensive breeder of Shorthorn cattle and kept many hogs. He soon became recognized as one of the most successful and progressive farmers and stockmen in the county, where he has ever been held in the highest regard. On May 9, 1867, Mr. Burnett was married to Margaret J. Stout, a native of Buchanan county, Missouri, where she was born on October 29, 1848, and her death occurred on August 4, 1890. She was the daughter of Albert and Nancy (Williamson) Stout, who were natives of Virginia. They settled in Missouri, where they remained until 1859, when they came to Marshall county, and settled on a farm near Blue Rapids, where Mr. and Mrs. Burnett were later married. To Peter S. and Margaret J. Burnett was born one child, Belle, who is now the wife of Elmer F. Haven of Jacksonville, Florida, where Mr. Haven is an inspector for the Armour Packing Company, of which he is the chief of the bureau of animal industry. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett were long identified with the active life of their home community, and were ever interested in all that tended toward the moral, social and educational betterment of the township and the county. Mrs. Burnett was an exceptional woman, who by her pleasing qualities won for herself many friends, who hold her in kindly remembrance. Both she and Mr. Burnett were attendants of the Baptist church, taking much interest in all church services and were substantial supporters of the society. Politically, Mr. Burnett is a member of the Republican party, and has always taken a keen interest in the civic life of the township. Though he has never been a seeker after office, he has served as a member of the local school board for twelve years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Blue Rapids and is the quarter-master of the local organization. His life has been an active one and he takes much pride in the fact that during his life in the defense of his country, he was under fire for three hundred days. Today he is one of the honored and highly respected men of the state. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/burnett9nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ksfiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb